Loose-leaf binder-frame and lock therefor.



`(. W. IHOMAS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER FRAME AND LOCK THEREFOR.

MPLICATION FILED APR. 8. |914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l IIIMIII I I udllllllllll .u L lllll.

G. W` THOMAS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER FRAME AND LOCK THEREFOR.

APPLICATION min APR.8.1914.

1,164,081, immuun nw. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEE 2. y@ 5.

EL@ c Il j 15 I7/ f5 f/ 3 A f a flu vento@ 6071/ 67M G. W. THOMAS.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER FRAME AND LOCK THEREFOR.

APPLlcAnou mw Ams. |914.

Patented Dec. 14',l 1915.

a SHEETS-surtt 3.

cause, upon an opening of the binder fraaie, the bound margin of the sheets to be turned outwardly or away from the llexible portion of said frame. Said strip 7 is divided centrally as indicated at S for :i purpose to be hereinafter fully set forth. A way 9 is formed between the bend and the strip 7, said way 9 having);r a bodily Slidable fastening member 10 disposed therein. The bent longitudinal edge of both plates 3 and l is cut away as indicated at 11, preferably at various points throughout its length. The 'respective extremities of the binder strips, designated as an entirety by the numeral l2, [it the respective cut out portions or openings 11, said strips being maintained iin-- mpvable with respect to the said plates by re'ascn of theirenfxagement with the locking or'iastening member 10. Retaining pinsY 13 varying' in length are formed integrally with the fastening member 10. in Suitable spaced relation, the said pins, in the normal position of the said jmember, passing through fiat eyelets 14 upon the respective ends of the binder strips 12. l Said pins 13 are also flat and when in engagement with the eyelets Imaintain the strips 12not only immovable with respect to the plates 3 and 4, butl also, upon an opening of the coin-V pleted book, cause the binding strips to be turned outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 2. It is further apparent, upon' reference to the said l"ig.2,that the said eyelets, when within the openings or cnt ont portions 11and engaged by the retaining,r pins 13, are locked immovable until disengaged by the said pins, the latter being'made possible by a. sliding of the member 10. Said member 1() is extended at one end and provided with a handle 15, the latter being without the way 9 as indicated in Fig- 1.

1t is apparent 'po'n reference. to Figs. 1 and 3 that the. pins 13, in assembling the device are successively forced through the respective eyes thereby making: it unnecessaiiy, 'as heretofore, to cause -all of the eyelets to be alined before movement of the locking element can he effected.

The binder strips 12 are vconstructed or formed as. follows: '.lhe eyelets'14 are first poi itioncd in spaced relation, yokcs 15,'substa itiallv lL-liapcd, being fitted,rone 'betwen the extensions each of the said .fn lets, the latte.: being also substantially Uvfhaped as indicated in Fig; 7. Pins 16 connect tlic'respective extensions of the eye lot. 14 and yoke@A 15, aprotector plate 17, of

resilient metal. being first interposed betrn-.en cach extension of the eyelets :in-l yokes to maintain the same in the desired spaced relation. One end of the plate 17 is perforated as at 1S through which perfora tions the pins or bolts 1G extend, while the opposite end of the said plate is slotted as at 1U, the pins 16 in tlfe opposite end of the hinder strip passing through said slot, which arrangement, upon practical application of the invention, will provide for the bending,y of the strips as `occasion may deable lock casing, the top of which is open as indicated at 22. W'ithin said 'casing 21 and mounted for rotation upon a pin 23 are I a plurality of rotatable tumblers designated respectively 24, 25, 2G and 27, the former, or the tumbler2-1 being'hereiiiafter referred to as the major tumbler. Disks 28, immovable with respect lto the casing1r are interposed, one between each of the respective tumblers, the pin 23 extending concentric-ally through the Several disks. Flach tumbler is provided with a slot 2%).extending from its periphery to a point in spaced relation to .its axis of rotation, the major tumbler 2l however, bein g provided with a second slot 30 somewhat longer than the slot 29 aforesaid. Each tumbler is also provided with an extension 31, the several extensions being risible through the openingg` 22. the latter being arcuate as indicated in Fig. 9. Each ex-' tension is provided withan opening 32 whereby any suitable element may be inserted therein to provide for movement of the tumblerswhereby to shift same in a. manner necessary to operation of the lock..

A locking bolt or keeper 33 isI mounted for sliding movement withinthe casing 21, said Abolt having a knob 34 secured thereto, the

latter being disposed exteriorly of the casing, its shank operating within a slot 35 of the casing top. The inner end of the bolt 33 is enlarged as at 36 and, in the operation of the lock, is forced into the slots 29 of the tumblers and into the alined slots 37 of the disks to provide for the withdrawal of the extended or project-ed end of the bolt from its normal-position within aout out portion 38 of the member 10, said bolt operating in the space 8 between the sections of which the strip 7 is composed. If desired, the periphery of the several tumblers may be notched as at 3f) to prevent feeling in an attempt at working the lockcombination by an unauthorized party.'

indicating marks 40, preferably ranging from one to seven. arestamped or otherwise delineated upon the casing top 21 to indicate, in the operation of theloek, the posif f y33. When the said slots 29 are alined with the already alined slots 37 of the disks 28, it is apparent that the said holt 33 may be slid until the enlarged portion 36 thereof engages the inner end of the slot 29 of the major tumbler 24, in which event the said bolt may be withdrawn from its engagement with the member 10, but not suliciently to disengage the same from the space 8 between the sections of the strip 7. Movement of the major tumbler 24 until the slot 30 thereof is alined with the slot 9 of the remaining tuinblers and the slots 37 of the disks, will allow the enlarged portion 36 of the holt to be bodily moved a sufficient distance to permit the said bolt to be withdrawn from its position within said space 8, in which event, ,the entire lock may be bodily moved as one of the sides of the plate supportinfr the same is cut away to provide for such lbodily removal.

A tongue 41 is integral with the casing and is adapted, in the normal position thereof to fit a slot 42 formed in one of the plate sides, this construction roviding for the retention of the said loc immovable with respect to the side plates, the locking bolt 33 by reason of its position within the space 8 and its engagement with theside of the said plate, serving as a retainin means for the opposite end of the lock from that upon which the said tongue 41 is formed.

Protector strips 42 may be arranged over the binder strips 12, one adjacent each of the respective longitudinal edges of the side plates 3 and 4, said strips serving as a support for thc looose leaves (not shown) and preventing frictional engagement between the outside leaves and the said side Aplates 3 and 4.

When it is desired that a loose leaf be removed, from between the sides of the binder frame 1, or when it is desired that a new leaf be boundthcrebetween, operation to unlock one of the members 10 is as follows: The combination of the present lock is one,

'six, two and a half, and five. The major tumbler 24 is first shifted or rotated until the extension 31 thereof is alined with the indicating mark number l on the face of the casing. Tumbler 25 is next shifted or rotated until its extension is alined with the' numeral 6 on the casing. Tumbler 26 is next shifted or rotated until'its extension is' alined with the mark indicating two and al -blers having been thus positioned or shifted,

the' respective .slots 29 thereof are alined 'with the slots 37 of the immovable disks, whereby to effect a Way within which the enlailged portion 36 of the bolt 33 is slid. Such sli ing movement of the bolt 33fwil1 withdraw the same from the cut out portion 38 of the member 10, in which event said meinber 10 may he bodily slid within the wav 9 by manipulation of the handle 15. Sliding movement of the member 10 until the retaining pins 13 disengage the eyes 14 of the binding strips, will provide for the unlocking of the said strips simultaneously, thereby permitting the removal of any number of loose leaves or the insertion thereupon of ad ditional leaves. The manner in which the said binding strips are again locked is apparent.

When it is desired that the entire lock casing 21 he removed, the tumblers are set or shifted in the manner above described, and, when so set, the major tumbler 24 is moved Afrom its position indicated in Figs. 9 and 14 until the extension 31 thereof is alined with the numeral 7 of the graduation marks, in which event, the slot 30 is 'alined with the slots 29 of the remainin tumblers and the slots 37 of the immovaile disks, and, as all of the said slots are of the same length, the bolt 33 may be slid or shifted until entirel hvithdrawn, not only from the cut Out portion 38 of the member 10, but from the space 8 between the sections of the strip 7. The said bolts being withdrawn from the said space 8, the casin 21 may be bodily removed, by withdrawing the tongue 41 from the slot 42 therefor.

From the above, taken in connection With the,accompanying drawings it is ap arent that a removal of any of the loose eaves can not he effected other than b y a party informed of the proper combination necessary to operation of the lock; that a single operation of the lock, will provide for, first, the unlocking of the member 10, and second, for the unlocking of the casing 21 within which the lock mechanism is arranged; and that by disposing, the respective plates 3 and 4, one upon each side ofthe binder frame, either or both ends of the binder strips 12 may he unlocked to provide for theremoval or insertion of leaves either at the back or front of the book. to the fact that the strips are both supcessively locked and unlocked; and that the curvature of the side plates and 4 togetheiwith the flat pins and eyelets will cause the binding strips to be Aturned or y completed book.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated .in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred emlodiment, is the most efficient and practical; .fet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details ofl construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may Attention is also called A.lio

-be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my inven tion. as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus' fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a frame for landing loose'leaves, a plate member rigid with said frame, said plate member being bent llongitudinally, a strip interposed between the bent portions of said members, the said bent portions being made rigid one with thev other and with the strip, the said strip adapted to delinea way extending longitudinally of said member, a locking element slidable in said way, a plnralityhof retaining pins in tegral with said element, the said member ha ving a plurality of openings formed therein across which the said pins are adapted to normally extend, means normally maintainingr said element against sliding movement, and a plurality of binding strips Fitting the respective openings andengaging thefrespective retaining pins.

2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination `lith a locking element, of a plurality of binding strips engageable with said element. said binding strips each comprising a pair of parallel spaced resilient plates, yokgs interposed between said plates, said yokes being disposed at the respective ends thereof. llc-xible means connecting said clamps. and eyes rigid with said plates, said eyes being disposed one at cach end of said strips` the said eyes being engageablewith the said locking element.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a frame, a pair of metallic side plates rigid with said frame, a locking member slidab'le upon cach plate, independent locking means engageable with each of said 'membersto normally maintain same immovable with respect to its plate. a plurality of binding strips connecting said plates, each strip comprisinga pair of resilient metallic protector plates arranged in parallel spaced relation, yokes4 interposed between s- 'd plates, said yokes being disposed at the respective ends thereof, a flexible element connecting the said yokes, and an eye at each end of the said retaining strip, the'resp'ictive eyes being'v engageable with therespective locking members wherethe slots of the respective tumblers when` alined, said bolts being normally engage-able with said locking element to maintain same immovable.

5. In a loose leaf' binder, a plurality of flexible binding strips, the several strips having c volcts formed in 'their respective terminals, a bodily movable locking element, a plurality ot' pins varying in length forming a part of said clcmentssaid pins adapted to be successively engaged with the eyelets aforesaid to lock the strips in place, and means movable into and out of engagement -with cach locking element, to 4i'eiider the latter movable or immovable as occasioninay demand. Y v f o. In a loose leaf binder, a frame, side plates rigidv with said frame. Said plates being bent longitudinally at an angle to the frame. a plurality of llexible binding strips,

said binding stiips having tlat eyelets form' ing their respective terminals. and a locking element located in each side plate, each element including a plurality ot llat locking pins eiigageable with the respective eyeletsv to cause the said binding strips to be turned outwardly and away from the frame upon an opening ot' the completed book.`

7.111 a loose leaf binder, a frame, side plates rigid with 'the frame, a plurality of flexible binding strips, said binding strips having eyelets formed in their respective tei'- iiiiiials, a locking element located in cach side plate. each element including a plurality of locking pins cngageable with the 'respective eyelets of the binding strips to cause said strips to be turned outwardly and away from the frame upon the opening of the book, andv E. ln a looselcaf binder, a framefor iiiv closing loose leaves, plate members 'rigid' with the frame, a strip rigid vwith each niembcr. the said strips defining a way extending longitudinally of the ineinbera.locking e1e`V ment slidable in said way, a plurality of retain-ing strips varying in length -integral with saideleinent, and a plurality of binding strips connecting the respective' plates, tlie said binding strips y,being engageable with the locking element. E

10. In a loose leaf binden-the combination with a pair of locking elements, a plurality of binding' strips engageable with each element, said. binding strips each comprising a pair of parallel spaced resilient plates, yokes 1;164,o31 Y S interposed between the plates, the yokes be- In testimony whereof I affix my signature ing disposed at the respective terminals in presence of two witnesses. thereof, flexible means connecting the yokes,

'and means rigid with the plates, the means GEORGE W THOMAS' 5 being located at each end of the said strips, Witnesses:

said means being engageable with the respec- GRACE F. THOMAS,

tive'ldcking element. W. C. RATCLIFF. 

